Fitness to Practise Legal Expenses Insurance for Full Members of the College of Paramedics

Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Paramedics practising in the United Kingdom must be registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), a healthcare regulator set up to protect the public. The Council maintain a register of Paramedics who meet their standards in respect of training, professional skills and behaviour. It is illegal to use the title of and practise as a Paramedic unless on the HCPC register.

Fitness to Practise Complaints

Anyone can raise a concern about a registrant’s fitness to practise. This includes members of the public, employers and other registrants. The Police may also notify the HCPC about criminal proceedings against a registrant. Complaints which are upheld, could seriously affect member’s ability to practise and their future employment prospects.

Important Notes and Options

The College of Paramedics provide each full member registered with HCPC with the following cover and support as a membership benefit

Access to legal helplines 24/7

Specialist legal representation at Fitness to Practise hearings

Legal expenses insured up to £100,000 any one claim with a maximum of £150,000 per member in any period of insurance

Cover applies to complaints notified during the currency of the policy which runs for 12 months from 1st November each year

Incidents arising after HCPC registration, College membership or 1st November 2013 are included, whichever date is the later

Cover includes complaints involving professional misconduct, poor performance, serious criminal offences, alleged medical malpractice and the like (but does not include legal defence costs arising from criminal prosecutions)

Please see policy summary, policy wording (for full details of the terms and conditions of cover and how to report a claim) available as downloads from this page.

Optional & Other Covers

Medical Malpractice Insurance

The College provide full and student members with Medical Malpractice and Public Liability Insurance for Good Samaritans Acts, volunteer work and limited paid work as a benefit of membership